Gate-latch.



H. R; LLLLoTT.

GATE LATCH. APPLICATION FILED Nov. ab, 1909.

Z SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented June '7, 1910.

H. R. ELLIOTT.

GATE LATCH. APPLIoATIoN FILED Nv. so, 1909.

Patented June 7, 1910.

2 SHEETS--SHBET 2.

@Romae/13 ANDREW a GRAHAM ce,4 PHDTOVLITHOGRAPNERS wnsmumou. nc

narran srarns ramena ormoni" HOWARD R. ELLIOTT, F BILLINGS, MONTANA.

GATE-LATCH.

all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l., HOWARD R. ELLIOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Billings, in the county of Yellowstone and State of Montana, have invented new and useful improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in gate latches and it consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my complete invention as attached to a fence post showing the gate in operative connection therewith and partially broken away. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the plate forming a part of my invention and which is rigidly and permanently attached to the fence post. section of the meeting rail of the gate and fence post showing my invention in plan, and Fig. t is a plan view of the blank forming the body portion of the latch before the same is struck up for use.

The object of my invention is to provide a very simple and practical gate latch, the parts of which can be interchanged and is so constructed as to automatically latch the gate by the movement of the latter in either direction without the requirement of additional parts or attachments, and the invention consists of a combined catch and stop plate of special design and formed or struck up from a single piece of metal and secured to the fence post in any suitable and mechanical manner, and a spring actuated latch lever movably secured to the said catch and stop plate, said lever being adapted to operate in conjunction with the outside meeting end rail of the gate for locking the latter', all of which will appear from the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents a fence post ofthe usual construction, 2 a gate having the usual longitudinal bars 3 and an end rail 4: which operates in conjunction with the fence post in the usual and well-known manner. To the inner or meeting surface of the fence post is secured a plate 5 at any suitable distance along its length, said plate having a horizontal portion 6 formed at right angles to the body portion of the same, the portion 6 being properly sheared or cut to form an extend- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 30, 1909.

Fig. 3 is a cross Patented June 7, 1910.

serial No. 530,619.

ing continuation 7 provided with oppositely located downward stops or abutting portions 8 against which either edge of the vertical rail 4f of the gate 2 is adapted to come in contact. To the upper surface of the eX- tension 6 of the plate 5 is movably secured a latch lever 9 at a suitable distance along its length the forward or free end of which is hook-shaped providing an inclined engaging surface 10 and a shoulder 11 the former permitting the gate to freely engage with the latch and the latter preventing the gate from opening after the same has been properly closed against one of the stops or abutting depending ends 8 of the plate 5. The catch lever 9 is of a 'suitable length the ends of which preferably extend a suitable distance beyond the fence post in order that the same may be properly and conveniently operated from either side of said post.

Fixed to the right angle extension 6 of the plate 5 is one end of a coiled spring 12 the opposite end being attached in any suitable mechanical manner to the catch lever 9 at the proper distance from its pivotal connection with the plate 5 for automatically throwing the catch lever to a latched position as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the position shown in dotted lines in said ligure representing the lever in a position to permit the gate to freely pass the engaging end of the lever, the latter being caused to assume said position by the operator when it is desired to open the gate.

By referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that holes 13 are formed in the horizontal portion of the plate 5 either one of which is adapted to receive a stop pin 14 against which the catch lever is adapted to come in contact for limiting the movement of the latter when in its normal'position, and it will also be noted that said horizontal portion of the plate is also provided with two holes 15 either one of which receives a pin 16 for attaching one end of the spring 12 to the horizontal portion of the plate 5.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the gate latch as shown is adapted to permit the gate 2 to operate in one direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 3 in the manner previously described. Should it be desired however, to operate the gate in the opposite direction the catch lever 9 is turned or movably secured to the horizontal portion of the plate 5 in the opposite direction,

the pin let moved to its adjacent opening and the spring 12 likewise connected to the opposite side of the plate, which construction provides an interchangeable latch for the purpose previously described.

Having thus described the invention'what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination of a plate having` a horizontally extending portion provided with a depending member forming a stop, a latch resting on the horizontal portion and pivotally mounted thereon, said .latch being provided with a shoulder spaced troni the said stop, a spring connected with the plate and latch, and means on the horizontal portion of the plate for limiting the movement of the latch.

2. The combination of a supporting struc ture struck from a. sheet metal blank and consisting ot' angularly disposed plate portions, one of the plate portions being slit from opposite sides and bent into depelniling stops, a latch reversibly and pivotally mounted on the last mentioned portion and provided with a. shoulder spaced from the adjacent stop, a spring connected with the level' for holding the saine in latching position, and a changeable stop for limiting the movement of the lever.

3. A gate latch comprising a plate adapted to be secured to the fence post, a horizontal portion forming a part of said plate and i having depending` portions oppositely located and forming stops against which the gate 1s adapted to come 1n contact, a catch lever movably secured to said plate at a suitable distance along its length, a stop pin projecting from the upper surface of the plate for limiting the catch lever in one direction, and a spring one end of which is secured to the plate and having its opposite end attached to the catch lever for causing the latter to assume its normal position as and for the purpose described.

el. A gate latch comprising a plate having a horizontal extension properly shearrl to form two downwardly projecting abutting surfaces against which the gate is adapted to come in contact, a catch lever movably attached to the horizontal extension of said plate and having an engaging end for cooperating with the gate, a pin secured to the horizontal extension ol the plate against which the lever is adapted to come in contact, a spring one end ot' which is also secured to said portion of the plate and having its opposite end attached to the catch lever at a suitable distance from its pivotal connection, said horizontal portion of the plate thus formed being provided with du plicate holes for causing the parts to be interchangeable as and for the purpose described.

ln testimony whereof l allix my signature in presence oil? two witnesses.

HOWARD R. ELLIUTT.

`Witnesses J. M. V. COCHRAN, L. E. TonnnNeE. 

